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Victoria Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary

{{Short description|A migratory bird sanctuary in Canada}}

{{Infobox protected area

| name = Victoria Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary

| map_caption = Location on Vancouver Island

| area = 1841 hectares

| established = October 27, 1923

| length = 30 kilometres

| photo = Pacific Great Blue Heron in the Victoria Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary.jpg

| photo_caption = A Pacific great blue heron at Cadboro Bay beach, part of the Victoria Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary

| location = Greater Victoria, Salish Sea, British Columbia, Canada

| nearest_city = Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

| area_ha = 1841

| designation = Migratory Bird Sanctuary

| governing_body = Canadian Wildlife Service

| coordinates = {{Coord|48.40|N|123.33|W|display=title,inline|scale:20000}}

| alt_name = VHMBS

| map = Vancouver Island

| map_width = 275px

| photo_width = 275px

| website = {{url|https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/migratory-bird-sanctuaries/locations/victoria-harbour.html|Victoria Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary}}

}}

The Victoria Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary or VHMBS is a 30 km protected area on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, Canada, in the Greater Victoria metropolitan area.{{Cite web |last=Canada |first=Environment and Climate Change |date=2014-11-04 |title=Victoria Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary |url=https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/migratory-bird-sanctuaries/locations/victoria-harbour.html |access-date=2024-01-27 |website=www.canada.ca}} It is located within the traditional territory of the Lekwungen People.{{Cite web |title=Lekwungen/Songhees |url=https://native-land.ca/maps/territories/lekwungen-songhees/ |access-date=2024-01-27 |website=Native-Land.ca |language=en}} The sanctuary is federally recognized as a critical habitat for bird conservation, and is home to an estimated 270 bird species, many of which are migratory.{{Cite book |last=Hentze |first=Nathan T. |url=https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2022/eccc/CW66-776-2022-eng.pdf |title=Dogs and migratory birds within migratory bird sanctuaries in the Greater Victoria area |date=2022 |publisher=Canadian Wildlife Service, Pacific Region |isbn=9780660412108 |location=Nanaimo, B.C. |publication-date=2022 |language=en |others=Environment and Climate Change Canada}}{{Cite web |title=Protecting Bird and Plant Life |url=https://vhmbs.com/ |access-date=2024-01-27 |website=Victoria Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary |language=en-US}} The sanctuary encompasses about 30 kilometres of coastline, an area covering approximately 1841 hectares (4549 acres) in total. Of this total, 31 hectares are terrestrial, and 1810 hectares are marine.

History

The VHMBS was established on October 27 1923 under the Migratory Birds Convention Act in response to a significant decline in bird populations caused by over-hunting. Today, it remains an important area for bird conservation. In 2023, the sanctuary celebrated its centennial anniversary.{{Cite web |date=2023-10-23 |title=Creating naturehood: Victoria Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary marks 100 years |url=https://www.timescolonist.com/islander/creating-naturehood-victoria-harbour-migratory-bird-sanctuary-marks-100-years-7718865 |access-date=2024-01-27 |website=Times Colonist |language=en}}

Plants and wildlife

The VHMBS contains more than 75 plants and animals that are of both federal and provincial conservation concern. The sanctuary provides habitat for an estimated 270 bird species, fifteen of which are listed under the Species at Risk Act.{{Cite web |title=BC Species & Ecosystems Explorer |url=https://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/eswp/ |access-date=2024-01-28 |website=a100.gov.bc.ca}}{{Cite web |last=Branch |first=Legislative Services |date=2023-12-08 |title=Consolidated federal laws of Canada, Species at Risk Act |url=https://laws.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/s-15.3/page-10.html |access-date=2024-01-28 |website=laws.justice.gc.ca}}{{Cite web |last=Canada |first=Environment and Climate Change |date=2023-04-12 |title=Canadian Wildlife Species at Risk 2022 |url=https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/species-risk-public-registry/publications/canadian-wildlife-species-risk-2022.html |access-date=2024-01-28 |website=www.canada.ca}}{{Cite web |last=Canada |first=Environment and Climate Change |date=2018-01-08 |title=Species at risk public registry |url=https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/species-risk-public-registry.html |access-date=2024-01-28 |website=www.canada.ca}}

= Species at risk =

== Birds ==

== Mammals ==

== Molluscs ==

== Plants ==

See also

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • [https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/migratory-bird-sanctuaries/locations/victoria-harbour.html Government of Canada: Victoria Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary]
  • [https://vhmbs.com/ Victoria Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary (VHMBS)]
  • [https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/C.R.C.,_c._1036/page-1.html Migratory Bird Sanctuary Regulations]
  • [https://vicharbourbirds.ca/ Friends of Victoria Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary]
  • [https://www.ibacanada.org/site.jsp?siteID=BC045 Chain Islets & Great Chain Island Important Bird Area (IBA)]
  • [https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/migratory-bird-sanctuaries/locations.html Migratory bird sanctuaries across Canada]
  • [https://www.timescolonist.com/islander/creating-naturehood-victoria-harbour-migratory-bird-sanctuary-marks-100-years-7718865 News story: Victoria Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary marks 100 years]
  • [https://www.crd.bc.ca/docs/default-source/es-harbours-pdf/bird-santuary/migratorybirdsanctuary-inserts-vicharbour.pdf?sfvrsn=2 Migratory Bird Sanctuaries of the Capital Region (CRD)]
  • [http://www.bclaws.ca/EPLibraries/bclaws_new/document/ID/freeside/00_96488_01 British Columbia - Wildlife Act]
  • [https://songheesnation.ca/community Songhees Nation]

{{British Columbia parks}}

Important Bird Areas of British Columbia